Big Cat, Small Cat - Practical Tips from two mother-in-laws [#Short Story]

 Big  Cat Small Cat - She Knows Her Mind

By Viji Bellie

Leena entered her destined place as a new bride. She was married to Shyam the day before yesterday. She was so tired with her marriage rituals and with her hectic schedule for the past one week. She really needed a sound sleep. How could she expect this in this new atmosphere especially being the centre of attraction?

She looked around for her husband hoping to get a chance to nap a bit. At some distance he seemed to be busy arranging some things with the help of his close friends. She could understand his exhaustion too but as he was engaged in such activities he seemed to be managing his exhaustion to some extent. But being here with her  own relatives on a big and beautiful mattress she was unable to cope with her position as a brand new bride. If only she could rest a little bit…

   Noticing all these from the distance, Shyam's grand mother Parvadham came towards Leena. From the beginning of her marriage proposal, Leena noticed that Shyam's grand mother was the 'Queen’ of this family and rightly so. Grandma Parvadham was smart. She was tall with a wheatish healthy build with an elegant dressing sense.Her husband Rajagopal was always proud of his position as being her King. All soft skills in her seem to be in the right proportion with her diplomacy in handling people of all age and the situations of all kind, in a graceful manner. Naturally she was a close yet strict friend to everyone in the family.

    Watching grand mother Parvadham walking towards her, Leena became a bit nervous. As a gesture of respect Leena tried to be on her feet. But Parvadham with a smiling face kept her hand on Leena's shoulder and gestured her to sit down."Leena, You look very tired. Go upstairs and rest for a while. You can join us for lunch later. We shall take care of your relatives." Then she gestured one of her relatives to take Leena to the bedroom upstairs.

   Leena was so relieved. She went upstairs. The room seemed to be comfortable. In a corner there was a medium size bed which was covered with a light colored designed bed spread which looked inviting to Lenna. She happily settled down and slept.

    After a sound sleep Leena woke up. She was so relaxed that she started  humming her favourite tune as she adjusted her dress and hair before going downstairs. Before she realized, Shyam entered into the room smiling. Leena didn’t know what to say and started blushing.

   Shyam said,'Do you know how many times I raced up and down to see if my angel was ready for lunch? But we must appreciate my grand mother's timely concern for your power nap. How do you feel now my sweet heart?" Blushing again Lenna said,"I am so sorry! I couldn't control my sleep. I must thank your grand mother.” With a smile and a nod, Shyam took her hand and led her down for lunch with the rest of the family.

   They reached the dining table where almost all relatives finished having their lunch. Leena could sense the teasing smile of the both families. Before things got complicated Parvadham came forward and held Leena's hand, "It's all right my child. Hope you feel better now. We all had our lunch. Never mind. You can enjoy your lunch with your husband." She winked at Leena.

   The next day all the relatives of the bride left Leena behind with so many suggestions. In fact Leena couldn't remember many things. Leaving everything behind she tried her best to be present in the present.

    Both Shyam and Leena had almost fifteen days in hand out of thirty days sanctioned for their marriage by their respective offices. They had to consult among themselves and with their family members about their honeymoon dates as the new couple were invited for lunch or dinner to the houses of various relatives. While talking with her family members, Leena found out that Shyam's parents Krishna kumar and Seetha both being a working couple, didn’t find any difficulty with their every day's schedule at home as well as at their working place. Seetha was also very comfortable as a daughter-in-law in that house.

    The open secret was disclosed very practically in the next few days. Leena soon learnt that all family members honoured their roles. They respected each other. No egos, no pretensions, no complexes and certainly no negative vibrations. Hearty inquiries by every one about everything like have you had nice sleep? or How is your project going? Both Parvadham and Seetha, before they went to bed scheduled their next two days program with their family members. Starting from their breakfast menu everything was discussed in detail. This planned schedule lead to the smooth sailing of the family.

    During the discussions they consulted the whole family members whether they were comfortable with their own schedule. First and third week end of a month would be the senior couple's week end (Rajagopal and Parvadham).The second and fourth week end would be the junior couple's week end (Krishna kumar and Seetha's). While the former took care of the home the latter couple had that day to take a break and do whatever they wanted to do. The next week the senior couple took a break. This plan gave the whole family a good space and privacy and they had many rich experiences together.

      One evening, Seetha was in the kitchen preparing some evening snacks for the family. Leena entered the kitchen to help her mother-in-law. Seetha turned to Leena,"So you people enjoyed your holidays nicely. Didn't you? "Of course ma" Leena replied with happiness. Watching her happy face Seetha continued, "You are looking so happy. Preserve this happiness for ever. This is the pride of this family. I would like to say one thing. Would you lend your ear to me?" Seetha asked in a genuine voice.

  "I am always ready to lend my ear ma! Please go ahead" Leena said politely. Seetha very casually continued as if she was talking to her close friend,"Leena, since your arrival to this beloved family, your observation of our family matters seems to be a good signal for me to discuss this matter with you personally. You see!I would like you to know that, we family members do not come between you and Shyam, you and your birth place, you and your friends and you and your office.In the same way if you don't let all these relations to come between us,I mean between you and this beautiful family for the sake of the pride of this family, I feel this is the best way to honor our roles. All these years I have been following this strategy and it works. How do you feel about this suggestion.?"

    "Wonderful ma! As a living example you are here, following that fantastic strategy to run this family successfully. The day you people selected me for Shyam, I started loving our beloved family. True love of our family members brings miracles into our family. I promise I will do my best to be a good family partner." Seetha hugged her daughter -in-law as if she was her own daughter. Rightly Leena also felt so.

   After having their evening snacks with coffee, Parvadham called Leena for a walk. Leena could understand that like Seetha her mother -in-law, Seetha's mother-in-law wanted to say something to her too. Leena couldn't help admiring Parvadham's strong nature. She wondered how it was possible for an eighty year old lady to cope with all family members preserving her own pride and prestige. They reached the nearby park.

   They seated comfortably on a park bench and enjoyed watching people of different age playing different games. Leena waited for some time. She could sense Parvadham's ‘how to start’ expression. Holding Parvadham's hand,"Would you like to say something grandma?" Leena asked politely. With a calculating look Parvadham said,"How shrewd you are my child! Yes I would like to say something but I wonder with what words I can fill up this generation gap."

"Not with words grandma, with love. Love can fill any generation gap” said Leena with a smiling face.

“My God! Thanks a lot. Our family is blessed with a shrewd and sensible grand daughter” said Parvadham. She kept her warm palm on Leena’s plump cheek, "My child I needn't say anything else.You are a born well wisher.A born well wisher would bring all forms of wealth to a family." She continued.

   “Assume you are a small cat. Your elders are the big cats. I mean let your parents-in-laws be Tiger and Tigress. Let them have their own pride and prestige. Never let them down. Respect them. Be a good listener. One day you will learn all tactics and strategies through proper training from them either directly or indirectly to become a big cat I mean a Tigress yourself to rule and support your family when the proper time comes. You will have the same capability to guide your next generation small cats to become big cats. Have I made myself clear?”

   "Hundred Percent grandma"Leena assured her. To her surprise both ladies uttered the same suggestion with different version for the welfare of the family. Leena silently took a resolution that whether she was in the position of small cat or big cat she must put her whole efforts to strengthen her family. She knew she was not alone. Seetha ma and grandma Parvatham were always by her side. She couldn’t ask for a better family. Together Lenna and Parvadham gazed at the children playing in the park as the sun set behind them promising thousands of better tomorrows.

Image Credit : Pixabay